The Omega He Underestimated
Chapter 5
I need food....
The thought slipped out of my mouth in a tired whisper as my stomach growled loudly in protest. I pressed a hand against my abdomen and exhaled slowly, trying to ignore the sharp emptiness clawing at my insides. I had been on the road for far too long. Days blurred together when you were a rogue, when the forest became your only shelter and the ground your only bed.
The strange thing was how quiet everything had become.
Normally the forest would be alive with movement deer grazing somewhere in the distance, rabbits darting through the bushes, the occasional rustle of small creatures hiding beneath fallen leaves. But tonight there was nothing. No animals. No movement. Just the distant chirping of birds settling in their nests and the gentle whisper of the evening breeze weaving through the tall trees.
It felt wrong.
I lowered myself to the ground beside a large tree, leaning my back against the rough bark as I tried to catch my breath. The exhaustion in my body was starting to settle deep in my bones. Being banished from my pack had forced me to survive alone for longer than I cared to remember, but nights like this still reminded me how lonely the life of a rogue could be.
My eyes drifted closed for a moment until a faint sound reached my ears.
Footsteps.
My eyes snapped open instantly.
The sound came again, slow and careful, as if someone was trying not to be heard. I pushed myself to my feet, every muscle in my body alert as my instincts sharpened. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless and curious.
I inhaled deeply, letting the forest air fill my lungs as I searched for a scent.
An Omega.
The realization left my lips in a quiet whisper as I began to follow the trail.
But something about the scent made my brows slowly knit together. It was strange... unpleasant even. Weak, almost fading, but mixed with something darker that I couldn't quite place.
Curiosity tugged at me as I moved silently through the trees, stepping carefully over branches and roots while tracking the unfamiliar smell. The deeper I went into the forest, the stronger it became.
Finally the scent led me to a small clearing And that was when I saw her.
A young girl stood several feet away with her back facing me. Her shoulders were tense as if she expected danger to jump out from the shadows at any moment. Her clothes were torn and dirt stained the fabric, making her look like she had escaped from somewhere she was never meant to leave.
I paused where I stood, watching her carefully.
She was small. Petite. From the outside she looked like nothing more than a fragile Omega who had wandered too far from safety.
But something about her presence made my wolf stir uneasily.
There was more to her than what the eyes could see.
It's was Power.
I stepped a little closer, letting a faint smirk tug at the corner of my lips.
"You look like a mess," I said casually.
The reaction was immediate.
She spun around in panic, her bright blue eyes wide as they locked onto mine. Her breathing quickened and she stumbled a step back before quickly grabbing a piece of wood from the ground and raising it in front of her like a weapon.
"Who are you?" she asked me
I raised both hands slowly in surrender, the smirk still resting on my face.
"Easy," I said calmly. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Her grip on the stick tightened, her knuckles turning pale as she pointed it directly at me. The determination in her expression was almost amusing considering how weak she looked.
"That didn't answer my question," she snapped, her voice firm despite the nervous tremble beneath it. "Who are you?"
A chuckle slipped out of my chest.
I glanced at the stick she held like it was supposed to protect her from a rogue wolf and shook my head slightly.
"Relax," I said, amused. "That thing isn't going to do you any good."
I paused then, realizing pushing her any further would only make her more defensive.
"River," I finally said, lowering my hands slightly. "My name is River. I'm a rogue."
Her eyes flickered with something that almost looked like surprise. Slowly, the tension in her shoulders eased and the stick lowered a few inches.
"You don't have a pack?" she asked quietly.
I shook my head.
"No," I replied simply. "I was banished."
For a moment she just stared at me. The sharp fear in her eyes softened slightly and something like sympathy crossed her face.
"Oh," she whispered.
The stick slowly slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground beside her feet.
"Your turn," I said after a moment, folding my arms loosely across my chest. "Who are you?"
She hesitated before answering.
"Seraphina."
I studied her carefully, tilting my head slightly as my gaze traveled from her tangled hair to the dirt smeared across her clothes.
"Seraphina," I repeated thoughtfully. "What is an Omega doing all the way out here alone?"
She didn't respond immediately.
"So what happened?" I continued, raising an eyebrow. "Did your pack banish you for being lazy and weak?"
Her head snapped up instantly as she shook it.
"No."
The firmness in her voice caught my attention.
"Then why are you here?" I asked.
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped halfway, her expression shifting as if she had suddenly reconsidered whatever truth she had been about to reveal but Instead she forced a small smile.
"I ran away."
The answer came too quickly. Too easily.
I knew she was lying.
But I didn't push her. Everyone had their secrets, especially in the world we lived in.
"Alright," I said with a low growl of acceptance. "So where are you heading?"
Her shoulders slumped slightly.
"I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I don't have anywhere to go."
I studied her for another moment before shrugging lightly.
"Well since you're basically a rogue now," I said, "you might as well stay with us."
Her head lifted instantly, confusion flashing across her face.
"Us?"
I chuckled.
"Yeah. I'm not the only rogue around here. There's a group of us living deeper in the forest. We decided to make this place our home."
She stared at me for a moment longer before speaking again, her voice softer this time.
"Your wolf... feels different," she whispered. "It's special."
A grin spread across my face.
"I hear that a lot," I teased.
Though deep down I knew my old pack had never called it special.
They had called it cursed.
I cleared my throat awkwardly, pushing the thought aside.
"Come on," I said finally. "Let's get you somewhere safe. You look like you could use a place to rest."
I reached out to take her hand, but she immediately pulled back as if the contact burned her.
Her expression hardened slightly.
"I can walk," she said.
I raised my hands again with a small sigh.
"Alright," I muttered. "Suit yourself."
She gestured forward with a small nod.
"Lead the way. I'll follow."
Shaking my head slightly, I turned and began walking deeper into the forest, the sound of her quiet footsteps trailing behind me as the darkness slowly swallowed the path ahead.
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